Casablanca derby

Casablanca Derby
Zakaria Zerouali of Raja and Khalid Sekkat of Wydad during a Casablanca derby in 2010
LocationCasablanca, Morocco
TeamsRaja CA
Wydad AC
First meetingRaja 1–0 Wydad
1956–57 Botola
(10 February 1957)
Latest meetingRaja 1-0 Wydad
2023–24 Botola
(2 June 2024)
Next meetingTBD
StadiumsStade Mohammed V
Statistics
Meetings total154
Most winsRaja CA (46)
Largest victoryRaja 5–1 Wydad
1995–96 Moroccan Throne Cup
(18 February 1996)

The Casablanca Derby (Arabic: ديربي الدارالبيضاء) is the football match in Morocco between Casablanca rivals Raja Club Athletic and Wydad Athletic Club. Traditionally played in the Stade Mohamed V, it is considered as one of the fiercest derbies in the world.[1][2]

Since the beginning of Botola, the two teams have never been relegated and have always played each other every season whether in the league or in Throne Cup. They faced each other outside of national competitions once, during the 2019 Arab Cup of Champion Clubs. This duel is accentuated by a social dimension; Wydad is closer to the bourgeoisie class, while Raja is more popular since it has always been associated to the Moroccan trade union from which many of its founders and presidents belong.[3] However, these ideological differences have faded over time and supporters of the two clubs now come from different social backgrounds.

The post 1980s period is marked by a rivalry in performance and prestige. It intensified even more over in the 2000s with the emergence of ultras groups. The Casablanca Derby is considered to be the football pinnacle in the Kingdom, due to its number of matches which exceeded the 150 in 2022, making it the most played confrontation in Moroccan football history, and the enthusiasm of the supporters who attach particular importance to it since it represents the opposition of the most popular and successful clubs in Morocco.[4]

The top scorer in the history of the Casablanca Derby is Said Ghandi with 7 goals, followed by Mohsine Moutouali and Mouhcine Iajour with six goals each.

History

Wydad have historically been seen as more middle-class and privileged thanks to the one-time backing of King Mohammed V before his death in 1961.[5] Wydad Casablanca has historically been associated with the Moroccan monarchy due to its close ties with the Moroccan royal family. The club's colors, red and white, are also said to symbolize the Moroccan monarchy.

Raja Casablanca, on the other hand, has traditionally been associated with leftist and populist politics.[6] The club was founded in 1949 by a group of leftist activists and intellectuals who wanted to create a team that represented the working class. The club's colors, green and white, are said to symbolize the hope and renewal of the Moroccan people.

Incidents and memorable matches

As in most of the world's derbies, riots and fights can take place before, during and especially after a major game.

On February 10, 1957, the first meeting took place between the two rivals, and witnessed Raja's victory 1–0 at Stade Philip in Casablanca.[7][8]

In 1978, Raja players withdrew from the match against Wydad during the last 10 minutes of the second-half because they were mistreated after conceding a penalty with a red card to their goalkeeper. Raja players did not accept the referee's decision and left the stadium by order of their captain Mohamed Fakhir, while Pitchou sat on the ball and waited with passion to score this penalty but Raja players refused to continue the match. The game ended by a score of 1–0 for Wydad.[9]

In 1996, Raja defeated Wydad 5–1 in the Moroccan Throne Cup quarts-finals. This score is the highest between the two rivals.

On April 6, 2001, Wydad initially won 3–0, but Raja complained about the illegal participation of the substitute Abdelhaq Ait Laarif who was registered with both Wydad and Étoile de Casablanca. The Moroccan federation accorded the win to Raja.[10]

On September 29, 2001, during the 100th derby which was part of the semifinals for the Moroccan Throne Cup, Youssef Belkhouja, a Wydad player, died on the pitch of a heart attack.[11]

On 24 May 2006, there was a fierce competition between the two rivals to clinch the league title. Raja scored first with a penalty by Abdellatif Jrindou, that result would have given Raja the title; but at the end of the match (at the 90+6 minute), a staggering strike from a long distance by Hicham Louissi gave Wydad the draw needed to win the league for the 16th time after 13 years of the last cup.[12]

On October 20, 2007, during an encounter between rival team supporters, Hamza Eddali, a Wydad fan who was 17, died. He is to date the last person killed in the Casablanca derby.[13][14]

On April 18, 2010, after Raja beat Wydad with a score of 1–0, a fight broke out between Wydad and Raja fans. Over one hundred people were arrested.[15]

In 2012, Wydad requested the FIFA and Royal Moroccan Football Federation to count the 5 titles that the club won in the regional championship organized during the Colonial Era in Morocco by french authorities before the creation of the Moroccan federation in 1956 as Botola titles. Their request was accepted and so, increased Wydad's Botola titles from 12 to 17. Wydad is the only club in Morocco to have their titles from the colonial era (before 1956) admitted by the FIFA.

In November 2019, the two rivals met in the second round of the Arab Club Championship. This was the first time that the derby took place in a non-local competition. The first game ended 1–1,[16] with Wydad leading by away goals. The second leg was one of if not the most epic match in derby history, with Wydad going up 4–1 with 15 minutes to play and Raja coming back to score in the 94th minute to make it 4–4, with Raja progressing on away goals.[17] This is the record for most combined goals in derby history but the match is also notable for its extraordinary atmosphere, with numerous Tifos being displayed and fireworks and flares going off throughout the match,[18][19] the latter of which there were so many it looked at times that the stands were on fire.[20]

Results

Key

Colors

  Raja win
  Draw
  Wydad win

Botola

These are the meetings in the Botola

Season Date Home team Score Away team
1956–1957 10 February 1957 Raja 1–0 Wydad
2 June 1957 Wydad 3–0 Raja
1957–1958 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–1 Raja
1958–1959 Raja 0–2 Wydad
Wydad 1–2 Raja
1959–1960 Raja 2–1 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1960–1961 Raja 2–0 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1961–1962 Raja 1–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–0 Raja
1962–1963 Raja 1–1 Wydad
Wydad 0–1 Raja
1963–1964 Raja 0–1 Wydad
Wydad 1–1 Raja
1964–1965 Wydad 1–1 Raja
Raja 1–2 Wydad
1965–1966 Raja 0–0 Wydad
29 May 1966 Wydad 0–0 Raja
1966–1967 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1967–1968 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–3 Raja
1968–1969 Raja 1–1 Wydad
Wydad 1–0 Raja
1969–1970 Raja 0–2 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1970–1971 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1971–1972 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–1 Raja
1972–1973 Raja 1–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–0 Raja
1973–1974 Raja 1–0 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1974–1975 Raja– 1–1 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1975–1976 Raja 0–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–1 Raja
1976–1977 Raja 1–1 Wydad
Wydad 2–3 Raja
1977–1978 Raja 2–2 Wydad
Wydad 1–1 Raja
1978–1979 Raja 0–1 Wydad
Wydad 0–0 Raja
1979–1980 23 December 1979 Raja 1–2 Wydad
4 May 1980 Wydad 0–2 Raja
1980–1981 Raja 1–0 Wydad
Wydad 1–2 Raja
1981–1982 19 December 1981 Raja 0–0 Wydad
8 May 1982 Wydad 1–0 Raja
1982–1983 4 December 1982 Raja 0–0 Wydad
22 May 1983 Wydad 1–1 Raja
1983–1984 21 January 1984 Raja 3–1 Wydad
26 May 1984 Wydad 2–2 Raja
1984–1985 25 November 1984 Raja 2–0 Wydad
12 May 1985 Wydad 1–2 Raja
1985–1986 12 November 1985 Raja 1–1 Wydad
22 February 1986 Wydad 1–0 Raja
1986–1987 25 April 1987 Raja 0–0 Wydad
23 May 1987 Wydad 1–1 Raja
1987–1988 Wydad 1–0 Raja
Raja 1–0 Wydad
1988–1989 5 February 1989 Raja 0–1 Wydad
4 June 1989 Wydad 3–1 Raja
1989–1990 26 November 1989 Raja 0–1 Wydad
5 May 1990 Wydad 2–1 Raja
1990–1991 8 December 1990 Raja 1–1 Wydad
5 May 1991 Wydad 0–1 Raja
1991–1992 24 November 1991 Raja 1–1 Wydad
10 May 1992 Wydad 1–0 Raja
1992–1993 13 December 1992 Raja 1–2 Wydad
May 1993 Wydad 2–2 Raja
1993–1994 5 December 1993 Raja 1–0 Wydad
3 April 1994 Wydad 0–0 Raja
1994–1995 18 December 1994 Raja 1–0 Wydad
21 May 1995 Wydad 2–1 Raja
1995–1996 11 February 1996 Wydad 0–3 Raja
26 May 1996 Raja 0–1 Wydad
1996–1997 3 November 1996 Wydad 2–2 Raja
17 May 1997 Raja 2–2 Wydad
1997–1998 2 November 1997 Wydad 0–0 Raja
29 Mars 1998 Raja 1–1 Wydad
1998–1999 13 December 1998 Raja 0–0 Wydad
30 May 1999 Wydad 0–1 Raja
1999–2000 21 November 1999 Wydad 0–0 Raja
14 May 2000 Raja 1–1 Wydad
2000–2001 2 December 2000 Raja 1–1 Wydad
6 April 2001 Wydad 0-1 Raja
2001–2002 9 December 2001 Wydad 2–0 Raja
19 May 2002 Raja 0–2 Wydad
2002–2003 19 January 2003 Raja 1–0 Wydad
15 June 2003 Wydad 0–3 Raja
2003–2004 16 November 2003 Wydad 0–1 Raja
2 May 2004 Raja 2–0 Wydad
2004–2005 5 December 2004 Raja 1–1 Wydad
30 April 2005 Wydad 0–1 Raja
2005–2006 4 December 2005 Wydad 1–2 Raja
24 May 2006 Raja 1–1 Wydad
2006–2007 12 November 2006 Raja 0–1 Wydad
18 February 2007 Wydad 1–1 Raja
2007–2008 24 November 2007 Raja 2–0 Wydad
23 Mars 2008 Wydad 0–1 Raja
2008–2009 16 November 2008 Raja 0–0 Wydad
3 April 2009 Wydad 1–0 Raja
2009–2010 20 December 2009 Raja 1–1 Wydad
18 April 2010 Wydad 0–1 Raja
2010–2011 4 December 2010 Raja 1–2 Wydad
10 April 2011 Wydad 1–1 Raja
2011–2012 31 December 2011 Wydad 0–0 Raja
6 May 2012 Raja 0–1 Wydad
2012–2013 16 December 2012 Raja 1–1 Wydad
29 April 2013 Wydad 1–1 Raja
2013–2014 24 November 2013 Wydad 1–1 Raja
6 April 2014 Raja 2–0 Wydad
2014–2015 30 November 2014 Wydad 2–1 Raja
11 April 2015 Raja 2–2 Wydad
2015–2016 20 December 2015 Wydad 0–0 Raja
8 May 2016 Raja 3–0 Wydad
2016–2017 27 November 2016 Raja 0–0 Wydad
23 April 2017 Wydad 1–0 Raja
2017–2018 10 February 2018 Wydad 1–2 Raja
14 April 2018 Raja 1–1 Wydad
2018–2019 6 January 2019 Raja 0–1 Wydad
21 April 2019 Wydad 2–2 Raja
2019–2020 22 December 2019 Raja 1–0 Wydad
24 September 2020 Wydad 0–0[21] Raja
2020–2021 21 Mars 2021 Wydad 2–0 Raja
3 July 2021 Raja 1–2 Wydad
2021–2022 6 November 2021 Wydad 1–1[22] Raja
16 June 2022 Raja 2–0[23] Wydad
2022–2023 23 October 2022 Wydad 2–1[24] Raja
5 April 2023 Raja 2–2[25] Wydad
2023–2024 3 January 2024 Wydad 0–2[26] Raja
02 June 2024 Raja 1–0 Wydad

Throne Cup

These are the meetings in the Moroccan Throne Cup

Season Date Round Home team Score Away team
1963–1964 17 May 1964 1/2 Final Raja 0–0 Wydad
19 May 1964 1/2 Final Replay Wydad 1–0 Raja
1964–1965 1/4 Final Raja 2–1 Wydad
1973–1974 1/2 Final Wydad 1–1

(3–4 p.)

Raja
1989–1990 1/16 Final Wydad 2–2 Raja
1/16 Final Replay Raja 1–0 Wydad
1992–1993 1/4 Final Wydad 1–2 Raja
1995–1996 18 February 1996 1/4 Final Raja 5–1 Wydad
1997–1998 4 February 1998 1/4 Final Wydad 2–2 Raja
6 February 1998 1/4 Final Replay Raja 0–1 Wydad
2000–2001 29 September 2001 1/4 Final Wydad 1–0 Raja
2002–2003 11 October 2003 1/2 Final Wydad 1–1

(12–11 p.)

Raja
2006–2007 20 October 2007 1/4 Final Raja 0–2 Wydad
2011–2012 6 November 2012 1/2 Final Wydad 1–3 Raja
2020–2021 7 July 2022 1/4 Final Wydad 2–0[27] Raja
2021–2022 9 July 2023 1/2 Final Wydad 0–1[28] Raja

Arab Club Champions Cup

These are the meetings in the Arab Club Champions Cup

Season Date Round Home team Score Away team
2019–2020 2 November 2019 1/16 Final 1st leg Raja 1–1[29] Wydad
23 November 2019 1/16 Final 2nd leg Wydad 4–4[30] Raja

Statistics

Overall match statistics

As of 3 January 2024
Competition Matches Wins Draws Goals
RCA WAC RCA WAC
Botola 136 39 33 64 121 109
Throne Cup 16 7 6 3 20 17
Arab Club Champions Cup 2 0 0 2 5 5
Total 154 46 39 69 146 131

Honours

Wydad leads Raja in terms of overall trophies, while both have three titles in the CAF Champions League.[31]

Raja CA Competition Wydad AC
Domestic
13 Botola Pro 22
9 Moroccan Throne Cup 9
22 Aggregate 31
Continental
3 CAF Champions League 3
2 CAF Confederation Cup 0
2 CAF Super Cup 1
0 African Cup Winners' Cup (defunct) 1
1 CAF Cup (defunct) 0
1 Afro-Asian Club Championship (defunct) 1
9 Aggregate 6
Regional
2 Arab Club Champions Cup 1
0 Arab Super Cup 1
0 North African Championship 3
0 North African Cup 1
0 North African Super Cup 3
1 UNAF Club Cup 0
3 Aggregate 9
34 Total Aggregate 46

Head-to-head ranking (1957–2024)

P. 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
10 10 10
11 11 11
12 12
13 13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Records

Results

Biggest wins (3+ goals)

Team Result Date Competition
Raja 5–1 8 February 1996 Throne Cup
Wydad 3–0 10 February 1957 Botola

Longest undefeated runs

Club Games Period Wins Draws
Raja 11 1973 – 1978 3 8
Wydad 8 1968 – 1972 2 6
26 May 1996 – 13 December 1998 2 6

Players

Top scorers

Said Ghandi is the all-time top scorer in the Derby history with 7 goals
Club Player Goals
Raja Morocco Said Ghandi 7
Wydad Morocco Rachid Daoudi 5
Morocco Mohammed Benchrifa

Most player appearances

Mohammed Oulhaj is the all-time most appearance player in the Derby with 21
Club Player Appearances
Raja Morocco Mohammed Oulhaj 21
Wydad Morocco Nadir Lamyaghri 19

Personnel at both clubs

Players

The first players to move from Raja to Wydad and back were Abdulaziz Anini and Ezzeddine Abdel-Rafi in 1973.[32]

Raja then Wydad
Mouhcine Iajour
Wydad then Raja
Tarik El Jarmouni

Managers

Raja then Wydad
Faouzi Benzarti
Wydad then Raja
José Romão

References

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